OTTAWA Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to relocate to Rideau Cottage, while the official residence of the Prime Minister at 24 Sussex Drive remains unoccupied. This decision follows recommendations from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and security officials. Currently, Carney has been temporarily residing at an official guest residence as a precaution related to his safety.
Rideau Cottage has been a residence for prime ministers and their families since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assumed office in 2015. In contrast, the official residence at 24 Sussex Drive has been closed since 2022 due to "health and safety reasons" and has not been occupied since Trudeau's term began.
In March, Trudeau tasked one of his ministers with formulating a plan for a new official residence to succeed the currently vacant 24 Sussex Drive. In a letter to former procurement minister Jean-Yves Duclos, Trudeau requested that the proposal be completed by January 2026, with a focus on transferring the responsibility for the official residence, excluding general maintenance, from the National Capital Commission to Public Services and Procurement Canada.
As of now, the Carney government has yet to disclose its intentions regarding the future of 24 Sussex Drive or alternative accommodations for the Prime Minister. Pierre-Alain Bujold, a spokesperson for the Privy Council Office, affirmed that the government acknowledges the significance of official residences and their cultural heritage. He mentioned that Public Services and Procurement Canada is actively collaborating with federal partners to develop options for the Prime Minister's Official Residence.
Furthermore, there are ongoing discussions concerning Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s living situation. Poilievre, who recently lost his seat in the Ottawa election, may face challenges continuing to reside with his family at Stornoway, the eight-bedroom official residence designated for the leader of the opposition. Although Poilievre remains the Conservative leader, the title of Leader of the Official Opposition can only be maintained by an individual holding a seat in the House of Commons.
In response to this situation, the Conservatives recently announced that Alberta MP Damien Kurek will vacate his position to open a seat for Poilievre when a byelection is convened. Carney has committed to expediently calling the byelection, although it is anticipated that it won’t occur until late June at the earliest.
According to Daniel Savoie, another spokesperson for the Privy Council Office, an official residence is typically made available to the Leader of the Official Opposition, which means that Poilievre, as the current leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, is entitled to reside there. However, Savoie maintained that any inquiries regarding the Conservative Party's management of its leadership in the House of Commons should be addressed to the Party itself.
The Conservative Party has not yet responded to requests for further details on how it intends to navigate this leadership matter and its implications for official residences.
